This Week in the Kentucky Legislature: Wins for Kids!

The legislature met for three days this week and now takes a break until they come back for a final two days of session on March 23 and 24. Representatives and Senators worked long days this week trying to get several bills through both chambers. We are excited to report that two Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children’s bills made it all the way through the legislative process last night and will now head to the Governor’s desk to become law. We thank the House and the Senate for putting kids first by moving these pieces of legislation forward!

SB 119, sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams, passed the House Education Committee on Monday, March 9. But the really exciting movements came yesterday when it passed the House and then completed its final steps toward the Governor’s desk for his signature. SB 119 will ensure that educators, who already do a great job of keeping kids safe, receive important information on recognizing signs of abuse. With an average of 49 kids per day experiencing abuse, over half of them school age, we know this legislation will help stop child abuse in the Commonwealth.

We thank the bill’s sponsor Senator Julie Raque Adams, as well as Representative Rita Smart, sponsor of the companion bill HB 301, for their leadership on this important issue. We thank the several co-sponsors and vocal supporters of the bills for their support. We also thank House and Senate Leadership for moving SB 119 forward on the final day of session before the break. Finally, we thank YOU for calling your legislators on this important piece of legislation for kids.

HB 429 also made it all the way through the legislative process by passing the Kentucky Senate on Wednesday, March 11. HB 429, sponsored by Representative John Tilley, will create a child care council to work with stakeholders and state agencies across the state to ensure a strong child care sector in Kentucky. Affordable, reliable child care allows parents to work while their children are cared for in a safe setting and serves as a critical piece of our local economies. This is a budget neutral way to improve Kentucky’s child care sector, which will help our working parents, our local economies, and most importantly, our children.

We thank several Senators including Julie Raque Adams, Ralph Alvarado, and Danny Carroll for guiding its passage in the Senate and for Senate leadership for moving the measure forward last night.

Yesterday was a great day for Kentucky kids in Frankfort. We still believe that HB 8, which would extend protective orders to people in dating relationships, could pass the General Assembly when they reconvene March 23, so please contact your Senator today about this bill. To contact your Senator on HB 8, click here.

To learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children initiative and priorities, visit www.blueprintky.org.